…NE News Updates

1) Measles Reported in Stapleton

On Jan. 16 Denver Public Health released an announcement that a person in Stapleton had gone to the Quebec King Soopers and Care Now Urgent Care while contagious with measles. Our Facebook post of the announcement raised numerous questions that we sent back to get further information. We received these answers about measles from the Epidemiology, Preparedness and Informatics department of Denver Public Health Q. Are people contagious before they show symptoms? A. People with measles can transmit infection four days before through four days after rash onset. People with immune deficiencies may be infectious longer. Q. How close contact would you need to have if you were in King Soopers or the Urgent Care waiting room with a person who has measles? A. Measles is most often spread directly through contact with someone who is coughing. However, the virus may remain airborne in a closed room for up to two hours. Thus occasionally people are infected up to two hours after an infected person has left a room. Q. The announcement you sent indicates the person who got measles got hospitalized. What are the health risks that can require hospitalization for measles? A. Measles can cause breathing problems and inflammation of the brain, although these are relatively rare (1-3 out of one thousand cases). People with measles may also be hospitalized to reduce the risk of transmission to others. Complications are more common in children under 5 and adults older than 20 years old. Pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems also may be more likely to experience severe illness or complications. Q. Why so many medical centers? Did the patient go from place to place, trying to get a diagnosis? A. All visits occurred prior to diagnosis. Unfortunately the early symptoms of measles (fever, runny nose, cough, pink eye) are common and non-specific. As measles becomes rarer due to vaccination, health care providers are less familiar with the disease. Q. Can a person be a carrier but not get measles? A. People with compromised immune systems may have fewer or atypical symptoms. But measles is only spread by people who are experiencing the disease, not by people without any symptoms. Q. Can people who have been vaccinated still get the measles? A. The vaccine is highly effective, especially after two doses. One dose of MMR vaccine is approximately 93% effective at preventing measles; two doses are approximately 97% effective. Some people may lose their immunity over time due to changes in their immune systems, but for most people protection is life-long after two vaccinations. To read the full announcement visit FrontPorchNE.com and search for “Measles Exposure.”

2) Trampoline & Adventure Park Coming to Stapleton

Urban Air’s Sky Coaster zip line. Photo courtesy of Urban Air

Urban Air Trampoline & Adventure Park is planning to open at 9550 East 40th Ave. in Stapleton on Memorial Day. The facility will be in the industrial space on 40th between Central Park Blvd and Havana. Franchise owner Mike Lapp, who also owns a location in Katy, Texas, says it will have activities for all ages, offering different levels of entry depending on age and interest. Toddlers and young children under 48″ can purchase entry for “soft play” only. At the other end of the spectrum is the platinum package for the full range of activities. Lapp says the Sky Coaster zip line and the Spin Zone (bumper car) are among the most popular attractions, but 20-25 different activities will be offered, including climbing walls, a ropes course, a warrior course, tubes and trampolines. An onsite cafe will serve both food and alcoholic beverages so adults can have a drink while watching their kids, though Lapp says adults also participate in the activities.

3) I-70 Construction

The lawsuit over the Central 70 project was settled in December, ending the last legal challenge for the project and construction is underway. The settlement includes a large health study to assess the cumulative health impacts of all pollutant sources in the area of the viaduct. To sign up for construction updates, including lane closures, go to https://codot.gov/projects/i70east/